Please help. I am considering buying a Panigale R

Guys,

I made the big mistake of going to my local Ducati dealer and checking out the Panigale R. The bike is just gorgeous. The dealer has offered me a nice deal but it means trading in my 2014 Panigale S which I bought and taking a loss since I bought it in Jan. Has anyone on this forum made the leap to the new R? Is it worth it?

I am also considering trading my 2013 Multistrada in for a new one instead of getting the R. Thanks for the advice and opinions.

For the street I'd get a 2015 Base or S - you don't need the R and won't go any faster on it. The '15 is much improved over the 1199

if you have money burning a hole in your pocket, go for it, but the R is a track machine and a waste on the street

I'm curious to know what people think of the suspension on the R vs the S.. e.g. Electronic vs manual

Also from what i'm reading the premium price seems to be with the engine

My question would be what is your plans for the R? Street or track? My 1199 goes plenty fast in the street and track already and I can't justify the loss for the next best thing when I can't even come close to the potential of this bike. So if the answer is street, I personnaly would upgrade the Multi to the new model year instead of the Pani.

good advice guys. Most of the use will be on the street. I do track days regularly but I plan to use it more on the street.

I upgraded my Multi to an R. Best of both deals

if you mostly do racing, go R. Mostly street/trackdays, 1299 S or base. I couldn't justify the extra cost of the S, but on the other hand everything is cheaper over there. The base is 35k usd over here...

I rode the new Multi S and would upgrade that over getting the new r unless you race.

I am on the same boat.

The way I look at it, get what you want.

Let's go for it all !!!

The heart wants what the heart wants. Go for it or you will never be content.

Get what makes you happy. Because if you buy the S, you might regret it later on. Get the R, No ragrets

imo u should get what u really want. it is ur money. dont listen to anyone here. street or track doesnt even matter. get wat YOU really want.

Ride a 1299 Base and see if you can handle that first, I don't know how anyone would want more on the street, this thing is an animal, and Ducati built the 1299 with street midrange power in mind - it also has a bit more torque in most tests I've seen. R just pushes the power a little higher up the rpm range and weighs a little less

Get what you want but $15k delta is a big price jump for something that won't go any faster on the street for 99% of riders (who can't explore the limits of any of these machines on the street anyway). Think of it in practical terms.

If we looked at what couldnt be handled effectively on the street, half of the riders out there would have no point buying above 600cc.
Bikes are supposed to stir the soul and nothing does that like opening the garage door to an R. Sod sensible.
And without being arsey about it, have you not noticed how 90% of the folk who say dont buy an R, are the people who dont have a R. While anyone who has one, will happily recommend one. Its just a bike, it will still commute, do track days, tour, scratch on the street, or just sit in your living room as a work of art. Any bike is what you want it to be.

But my recommendation is R every day of the week!

Having an R model just to say you have one but never tracking it or pushing its lmits seems like elitism to me. It reminds me of Porsche GT3 owners who just profile.

If we looked at what couldnt be handled effectively on the street, half of the riders out there would have no point buying above 600cc

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Not really a good analogy. The 1299 Base will accelerate, stop, and reach a top speed that is very close to an R model. Performance for the buck, it's a no brainer

The R model is still far removed from a true competive national level superbike. So if it's the "I ride a bike like Chaz" factor, it doesn't add up.

I'd say keep the 14'....and wait for the next major evolution, then trade it in.

The replacement of the 1299/Panigale R I bet will be quite a step up (whenever that may be). I feel while the upgrades for 2015 are amazing, but it's just to hold people over

My hope for whatever replaces the 1299/Panigale R is more electronics AND more data acquisition in the form of what comes with a full Magneti Marelli kit (suspension travel, and anything else the DDA is lacking)

FYI if this is a pure track bike, for the hit you'll take on the 14' + the extra cost+tax on the 15' Panigale R you could put that money toward a Superbike Magneti Marelli kit and you'll get the cluchless up/down shift, wheelie control, abs, launch control, anti rear wheel lift, etc..etc..etc.. Granted you need to be really good with data and computers to make use if it, but just a thought

fzr100098 said:

Having an R model just to say you have one but never tracking it or pushing its lmits seems like elitism to me. It reminds me of Porsche GT3 owners who just profile.



Not really a good analogy. The 1299 Base will accelerate, stop, and reach a top speed that is very close to an R model. Performance for the buck, it's a no brainer

The R model is still far removed from a true competive national level superbike. So if it's the "I ride a bike like Chaz" factor, it doesn't add up.

Click to expand...

Your analogy is a terrible one. Let's go with the "if you're not tracking it" blah blah blah....are you tracking your bike? If so, are u pushin the limits most of the time? I mean .......u may not be riding an R but you are riding a superbike. People can practically race with a base model fresh out the crate.

These bikes are ridiculously advanced in many ways....far more than majority of us can extract out of the bike. That said, the GT3 buyers, any Ferrari, Lambo, etc. all buy their cars/bikes because it's what they want. They don't have to track it, push the limits or any of that. Doesn't make them an elitist. Makes them an enthusiast who just happen to be wealthy enough to afford expensive toys. I got my 1199 because it's a sexy ... motorcycle and i knew i was going to customize it anyway. I purchased a Lexus RC-F couple months ago and have absolutely no intentions on tracking or pushing its limits. Should I just have gotten an RC350 instead? Hell no. Am I wealthy? Nope. Don't even make a 6 figure income but it's what I wanted. If it fits within my budget, I'll buy whatever puts the biggest cheesy grin on my face, whether I'm pu$$y footin around town or rompin on the freeway.

Get whatever the hell u want. The ones passin judgment are simply expressing their jealousy.

1. You missed my point - the comparison was made to 600s in terms of performance, but 600s will not accelerate like a 1299. A 1299 will accelerate as well or maybe a bit better than an R. You can use that acceleration on a mountain road, and the braking is just as good.

2. No one would track a Lexuc RC-F because it's a big heavy luxury sedan

3. No one is "passing judgment" on anyone, just expressing opinions. Nor am I jealous of anyone with an R is the slightest - buy what makes you happy. I do make a six figure income but don't like wasting money.

Buy what you want, I had R's and I always want another. Like others said buy what makes you happy. If you want an R just to say " yeah I have an R", not a good reason. Don't forget, you could do carbon body, mag wheels, and other goodies that would still be less than an R, and the hit you are gonna take at the dealer. Blah blah, is when ppl say oh my god there is such a difference between an S and R, If you are good enough to tell the difference you wouldn't ask. Throw a sprocket on it, buy a R sticker, cost you about $70. But if you do trade it good luck.

Would I buy a used R for $22-24k next year (because that's what they will sell for) - maybe